It appears a cat scan photo is making the rounds again on social media. Although it’s upsetting, many people don’t know these photos have been floating around on various websites, including Facebook and Tumblr, where they’re basically considered a joke.
Pets Advisor Buzz is the latest to report cat scanning in a March 18 report, entitled: Someone Keeps Photocopying This Cat on a College Campus. This latest report comes from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where it was reported in the school newspaper Badger Herald that someone has been using a photocopy machine at Steenbock Memorial Library to make images of a cat. Paper staff member Amy Sleep says she’s seen several of these copies now, and tweeted
“Apparently someone keeps bringing their cat to the library to photocopy it. I’m serious.”
The Steenbock Memorial Library made light of the situation warning
“Repeat offender! If you see that cat at Steenbock, let us know. He is breaking our photocopy selfie policy.”
While this may be considered a joke by many, in reality it’s a serious issue that could cause damage to the cat. Not only would this be a terrifying experience for the cat, it may also cause damage to the retina, since a cat has much more sensitive eyes than a person.
There tends to be a growing trend these days to mock cats on social media. A few years back we had ‘in-bread‘ photos being posted. In 2014 we’re dealing with the more serious issue of blatant abuse, such as events promoting cruelty to cats. Cat-fisting and cat-cooking pages have sprung up on Facebook, and it’s been reminiscent of a scavenger hunt in finding them and convincing Facebook to take them down.
These events tend to be produced with the sole purpose of upsetting cat advocates, as its a very rare occurrence to see a dog being abused on what social media considers “satire.” I imagine cat haters are sitting back laughing as we bounce from one case to the next in order to protect the cats we feel are being abused.
The case of cat photocopying really is a danger to cats, because the can be temporarily or permanently blinded. Do the fools who post these photos have a clue of the health dangers involved? It leads me to wonder whether those who post the photocopying photos are simply trying to get a laugh out of their friends, or whether these pranks are being carried out as a form of animal cruelty.
Readers, do you think this is a joke to gain attention on social media, or should this be considered animal cruelty? Your comments are welcome.
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Cat scan on Tumblr
That poor cat. Madison is a small city, but near the campus there is a lot of traffic and noise. Everytime the cat is dragged into the library to be photocopied it has to be terrified the whole time, not just during the “scan.” Plus the danger to the cat. They have to sneak the cat in– what if he gets out of the bag they have him stuffed into? He would get hit by a car or quickly lost in what is a crowded urban area.
In defense of Wisconsinites, my friend Don lives in Madison and he is the best cat caretaker ever. He really understands cats, knows how to think like a cat in order to figure out what they need and like. He’s gentle and quiet around them. He’s taught me a lot of things about cats. He treats his cats like royalty. He keeps them safe, allowing access to the sights, sounds and smells of the outside supervised on a second story porch, but not allowing them to roam in the city. Any cat lucky enough to live with Don has a wonderful forever home.
He works at the campus. I’ll tell him about this story so he can keep his eyes and ears open, maybe find out who is doing this.
This is animal cruelty, and the people that do it may or may not realize the danger, but don’t care.
I’d report anyone who’s doing this, although I doubt if they’d get punished by the law, considering even more serious offenses that don’t.
I don’t they do realise it. The people who do this sort of thing don’t have the sensitivity towards a cat’s emotions and welfare that proper cat caretakers have. It would cross the mind of a good caretaker to do this sort of stunt.
Michael, I think you want to revise your last sentence.